Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains: A Guide for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and Neighboring Areas: A Guide for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and Neighboring Areas

More than 300 species of birds have been reported from the Blue Ridge Mountain province, an area stretching from south-central Pennsylvania to northern Georgia. This book describes the region's birds and tells birdwatchers where to go to find them. It is a valuable resource for vacationers and casual birders as well as for serious birdwatchers and professional zoologists. At the heart of the book is a detailed guide to the best birding localities in the region. Marc Simpson describes more than 300 sites, including recreation areas, overlooks, campgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails. For each site, he lists the species most likely to be seen there as well as rare or unusual birds that the persistent birder might find. He includes notes on the geography and plant life of each site and provides information on highway access and accommodations. Simpson also supplies a special list of sites accessible to those with handicaps. Finally, the book includes an annotated checklist describing in detail the seasonal occurrence, habitat selection, relative abundance, elevation ranges, and relevant history for each bird species reported from the region. Additional resources include a suggested reading and reference list, organized by state, and a list of phone numbers and addresses for the Blue Ridge Parkway districts, for National Forest offices, and for state and national parks. The book is illustrated with drawings by noted bird artist H. Douglas Pratt, and it includes detailed maps for most of the major birding sites.